Abbas’ advisor calls on all Palestinians to come to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, carry out Ribat there, and “protect its sanctity”

Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
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Dec. 11, 2017

Headline: “Al-Habbash: Israel is playing with fire; Jerusalem is the headline of the current period”
“Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the occupation state is playing with fire when it attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem…
Al-Habbash said this in response to the extremist calls made yesterday [Dec. 10, 2017] by groups called ‘The Temple Mount Faithful,’ which called to carry out widespread invasions of the holy site of Jerusalem (i.e., the Temple Mount) with the support of the occupation police and under its protection.
Al-Habbash demanded that the members of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and in the 1948 territories (i.e., Israel) and everyone who can come to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it, and protect its sanctity. He again demanded that Muslims and Christians alike visit the holy city [of Jerusalem] and carry out Ribat at its holy sites, in order to support its [Arab] residents and oppose the American policy and Israeli aggression…
Al-Habbash warned the occupation government not to take any crazy steps regarding the holy city and the holy sites in it following the reckless and irresponsible decision of the American administration (i.e., to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the US embassy to it; see note below)…
Al-Habbash explained that the international community – which opposed the unfair American decision against Jerusalem – needs to implement its authorities, put an end to the violations of the occupation state and the extremist Jewish groups against the holy site of Jerusalem, and declare Israel to be a state that sponsors terror and threatens the security and peace of the world.”

The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view any presence of Jews on the mount as an “invasion.” It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock.

US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump gave a speech formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stating that he had instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump concluded by stating that the US is still fully committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Following his speech, Trump signed the waiver to delay the transfer of the embassy, and apparently will continue to do so until preparations for the transfer have been completed.